Death Of Greenville Bakery Owner Leaves City Mourning

Tools

By
Amanda Wade

Downtown Greenville won't be the same after the death of Ozzie Judah, a man who community members say was using his big heart to bring life back to the center of the city.

We once featured Ozzie Judah and his famous chicken salad in a Positively Alabama feature story. Judah, known for his love of family, cooking, and making others happy, lost a short battle with congestive heart failure early Wednesday morning. Judah and his wife, Ann, own Camilla City Bakery, and other Greenville business owners say there's been a difference in town since the bakery temporarily closed while he was in the hospital.

"When that bakery is closed, you can see an immediate drop in the amount of traffic, foot traffic on the street, number of cars downtown, but I think people enjoy going in as much to see Ozzie and Ann as they enjoy going in for the great food that they had," says Mary McKinley, a fellow downtown Greenville business owner and friend of the family.

Not only has the couple brought business to the city, community members say Judah's heart was his biggest attribute, "Mr. Ozzie, he was one of those people you could be in a bad mood and go see him down at the bakery, and before you left there you'd be in a great mood," says Greenville Fire Chief and friend of the Judah family, Chad Phillips.

Another long time family friend, Nancy Faulkenberry, also says Judah's love for his family, especially his wife, was truly what made him stand out, "He and Ann go together like nobody else could possibly go together. When you go in the bakery they have this way that they communicate with each other. They make everybody feel welcome," says Faulkenberry.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been set and the family says they are working on plans for the bakery.